Apple 'in talks' to buy TV manufacturer Loewe

Acquisition of high-end German company would surely mean Apple iTV partnership

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Could Apple be buying Loewe to build its iTV project?

Apple is said to be negotiating with high-end German TV manufacturer Loewe, perhaps with a view to its eagerly anticipated plans to enter the flatscreen market.

AppleInsider says acquisition talks have entered the advanced stages and Loewe, which also builds components and home entertainment systems, is expected to make a decision on Apple's offer in the next week.

The site's source claims that Apple has offered around £69m ($112m) to take the company, which is slightly above the value of its closing share price on Friday.

Loewe "has been advised by its financial advisor to accept the offer and a final decision is scheduled to be announced internally before 18 May 2012," the source revealed.

War chest

Any acquisition of the 83 year-old manufacturer, would surely confirm beyond any reasonable doubt that Apple plans to launch its own-branded HD television.

Such is Apple's current war chest, the deal would only see Cupertino part with a fraction of its cash stockpiles of $100 billion, although some of that has been allocated for shareholder dividends.

Recent reports have suggested that the company will not launch its flatscreen solution until at least 2014, with more stories this week claiming the device would, in fact, be built by Foxconn.

Loewe in the UK has declined to comment on any speculation, although the German arm of the company has apparently said that there's nothing in the rumours.